Gay Attack Victim on Life Support

Sept. 7 robbery in Shaw has police on lookout for four suspects

The Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU) of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department is reporting that two men from Maryland were attacked during a robbery on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 7, at Eighth and N Streets NW.

According to the GLLU report, the incident was classified as a hate crime ”based upon the victims’ actual or perceived sexual orientation,” and due to the proximity of the attack to Be Bar, a lounge that caters to the gay community, located at 1318 Ninth St. NW, about a block from the attack in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood.

”A final determination as to whether or not the case will ultimately be classified as a hate/bias crime will be made by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Hate/Bias Crimes Coordinator after a complete review of the evidence, facts and circumstances,” the report states.

Police are reporting that one of the victims, a 23-year-old from Fort Washington, Md., suffered a bruise to his jaw, and was treated and released from a local hospital. The other victim, 37, from Clinton, Md., suffered a laceration to the back of the head and was admitted to a local hospital. As of late Tuesday, Sept. 9, the GLLU reported his condition as ”guarded.”

According to MPD Acting Lt. Brett Parson, who is responsible of all MPD liaison units, including the GLLU, suspects stole a set of car keys and $15 before fleeing in an unknown direction.

Police are on the lookout for ”four black males, between 19-22 years old, 5’9”-6’2”,” who were all wearing blue jeans and T-shirts.

Lamont Joy of St. Louis, Mo., an acquaintance of the 37-year-old victim, confirmed that the victims were headed to Be Bar on the night of the attack to meet friends.

”They never arrived,” he says.

Joy adds that the hospitalized victim, described by Joy as African-American and gay, was placed on life support at Howard University Hospital.

”They told his mom and his family yesterday that he’s not breathing,” Joy said Sept. 10.

Anyone who has any information about this attack is asked to call the GLLU pager number at 1-877-495-5995.